Quick reference for terms used throughout this site. All definitions are specific to online slots and are written with Wanted Dead or a Wild mechanics in mind.
Quick reference for terms used throughout this site. All definitions are specific to online slots and are written with Wanted Dead or a Wild mechanics in mind.
RTP (Return to Player) — the theoretical percentage of wagered money a slot returns over millions of spins. Wanted Dead or a Wild defaults to 96.38%, meaning the game keeps 3.62% as house edge over the long run. Individual sessions will vary wildly.
Volatility — how spread out the results are. High volatility means wins are less frequent but larger. Wanted Dead or a Wild is rated 4/5 on Hacksaw's scale, with individual bonus rounds ranging from medium to very high.
Scatter — a special symbol that triggers bonus features regardless of payline position. This slot has three types: Train Robbery, Duel, and Dead, each activating a different bonus round.
Wild — substitutes for all regular pay symbols to help form wins. In Wanted Dead or a Wild, wilds also appear as expanded VS symbols with multipliers up to 100×.
Multiplier — a value that multiplies your win. VS symbols carry multipliers from 2× to 100×. In Dead Man's Hand, the collected multiplier can reach ×31.
Free Spins — bonus rounds played without deducting from your balance. This game has three: Train Robbery (10 spins), Duel at Dawn (10 spins), and Dead Man's Hand (collect + 3 showdown spins).
Bonus Buy — a feature that lets you purchase direct entry into a bonus round instead of waiting for scatter triggers. Costs: 80× (Train Robbery), 200× (Duel at Dawn), 400× (Dead Man's Hand). Not available in all jurisdictions.
Hit Rate — the percentage of spins that produce any win. Wanted Dead or a Wild has a 19.36% hit rate — roughly 1 winning spin in every 5.
Paylines — fixed patterns across the grid where matching symbols form wins. This slot has 15 fixed paylines on a 5×5 grid, active on every spin.
Grid — the arrangement of symbol positions. Wanted Dead or a Wild uses a 5-reel, 5-row grid (25 total positions).
Sticky Wild — a wild symbol that remains in place for the duration of a bonus round. Used in The Great Train Robbery feature.
DuelReels — Hacksaw Gaming's proprietary mechanic. VS symbols expand across entire reels, turning them wild with multipliers. Two outlaws duel to determine which multiplier applies.
Max Win — the highest possible payout from a single round. Wanted Dead or a Wild caps at 12,500× the bet. When reached, the round ends immediately.
Autoplay — automatic spinning without manual input each round. Advanced settings include loss limits, single win limits, and total play counts.